Written by Eleanor Coerr Illustrated by Darcie Park

Portions may be reproduced for use in the classroom with

this express written permission of Sleeping Bear Press.

Teacher�’s Guide written by Patricia Pierce

Published by Sleeping Bear Press 310 North Main, Ste 300

Chelsea, MI 800-487-2323

www.sleepingbearpress.com

Nevaddda State Syyymbbbols Bo k Create a Nevada state symbols book! Use the following map outlines for yourfront cover and pages of your book. Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet todiscover information about Nevada�’s state symbols. Draw and write about eachsymbol on copies of the blank map outline. After completing your pages, connect thepages to the cover by stapling along the dotted line on the front cover.

oollss BBoooookk mmaa SSttaattee SSNNeevvaa

Nevada Acrostic Poetry

Write an acrostic poem about Nevada. Begin by writing Nevada in capital letters vertically down a piece of paper. Each line of poetry must begin with the letter on that line and must pertain to Nevada. You may use one word or phrase for each line and it does not have to rhyme. Use adjectives and phrases that describe Nevada. Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet for ideas.

Examples N evadans search for silver and gold E ureka was their cry V irgina City, here we come A rmed with shovels and picks D igging through the rocky ground A mazing tommyknockers tap the mines N eon Vegas Vic and Vicki E normous hotels V isitors on vacation A ttractions D ining at buffets A pplause at the magic show

Nevada�’s Amazing Animal

Desert Bighorn Sheep

�“Ram�” together each pair of word groups on the left with the word groups on the right to make sentences about Nevada�’s state animal, the desert bighorn sheep. Ram the sentences together by drawing a line between the word groups that go together.

Female bighorn sheep are called rams.

Male bighorn sheep are called lambs.

Young bighorn sheep are called ewes.

Desert bighorn sheep is a harsh environment.

Desert country live in dry mountain ranges.

Bighorn sheep hooves are good for mountain climbing.

You can tell the age of bighorns have horns.

A full curl horn takes at least seven years to grow.

Both male and female bighorns by counting the rings on its horn.

A bighorn�’s tail can weigh as much as 175 pounds.

The eyesight of bighorns is very short.

A male desert bighorn allows them to see a mile away.

~ ~ ~ ~Paper Weaving~ ~ ~ ~

Dat-So-La-Lee wove her tribal history and stories into Nevada�’s history. Learn more about this great Washoe artist on page D of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

~ ~ ~ ~CREATE YOUR OWN PAPER WEAVING~ ~ ~ ~

MATERIALS

Scissors and glue Two pieces of different color construction paper

DIRECTIONS

1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half. 2. Make cuts from the fold out to about one inch from the edge of the paper. 3. Unfold your cut paper and lay flat. This will be your �“warp.�” 4. Cut long, one-inch strips from the other piece of construction paper. 5. Weave the strips in and out of the warp. 6. When weaving is finished, cut off any hanging ends of the weaving strips. 7. Glue the strips in place along the edges of the warp.

TRY THIS!

On other weaving projects try these suggestions. Cut your warp cuts in a wavy pattern. Use several different colors of paper for your weaving strips. Use flat ribbon for weaving instead of paper. Cut the weaving strips into different widths. Try different types of paper, such as wrapping paper or magazines for weaving. Laminate the paper weavings and use as lunch mats.

Nevada Diamante Poem

Find a partner! Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

Write a diamante, a diamond shaped, poem about Nevada. Follow the pattern below.

Have fun!

Nevada __________ __________ Write Nevada�’s state colors

__________ __________ __________ Write three state symbols of Nevada

_________ _________ ________ _________ Write the names of four famous people from Nevada

__________ __________ __________ Write three tourist attractions

__________ __________ Write two more state symbols of Nevada

__________ Write Nevada�’s capital

How many states entered the Union during the Civil War? Find the answer to this ques ion and other interesting facts about Nevada�’s state flag on page F of S is or Silver: A Nevada Alphabet. r Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

t

f

DirectionsDirections: Each sentence below contains one incorrect word. Cross out the incorrect word and write the correct word above it to make the sentence true. Refer to page F of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet for help.

1. The official colors of Nevada are black and silver. 2. Gold is Nevada�’s state mineral. 3. Nevada is a Spanish word for �“snowstorm.�” 4. Nevada�’s state flower, sunflower, is part of the flag�’s design. 5. In the upper left-hand corner of the flag is a five-pointed silver diamond. 6. Nevada was the only state to join the Union during the Revolutionary War. 7. �“Battle Strong�” is printed across the top of Nevada�’s flag.

THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEVADA

The Great Seal of the state of Nevada was the first symbol Nevada adopted. Everything depicted on the seal has special meaning to the state of Nevada. Learn more about Nevada�’s Great Seal by reading page G of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet. Can you explain what some of the different images on the seal represent? Image

What does it represent?

36 stars on the inner ring

Silver miner

Train

Telegraph poles

Sheaf of wheat

Sunrise over snowcapped peaks

What do hard hats have to do with the Hoover Dam?

Discover the answer on page H of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet

Built during the Great Depression, the Hoover Dam provided jobs for many people. The chart below shows the hourly wage paid to workers who built the Hoover Dam in the early 1930s. The workers worked eight hours a day. Complete the chart by figuring out the amount workers made per day and per week (five days).

JOB

WAGE PER HOUR

WAGE PER DAY

WAGE PER WEEK

Brakeman

50c

Electrician

75c

Miner

70c

Muck Machinery

Operator

$1.00

Shovel Operator

$1.25

With feathers as blue as the mountain sky, the mountain bluebird is a state symbol of Nevada. Learn about the mountain bluebird by reading page B of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

Turn this bird into a beautiful mountain bluebird!

Write three facts you learned about the mountain bluebird.

Write the insects the mountain bluebird eats in alphabetical order.

beetles ants flies wasps grasshoppers

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Unscramble Nevada

Read the following hints and unscramble the words that are related to Nevada. Skim and search S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet for clues.

Scrambled Word Hint Answer

SRCAON YCIT NEVADA�’S CAPITAL

SNWLONCAD SPANISH WORD FOR NEVADA

OOHVRE MAD

COLORADO RIVER

IHCTHSOYRUA FISH REPTILE

SLA EVGSA EXCITING CITY

HLENMA VCAES

NATIONAL PARK

YPRAIMD KLAE

PYRAMID OF ROCK

ARMK TWNAI

SAMUEL CLEMENS

SDEETR OTRTOSIE

STATE REPTILE

GESABRSHU

STATE FLOWER

VRIGIINA YCIT

COMSTOCK LODE

Wild horses couldn�’t keep us away, read about Velma Johnston on page J.

Velma Johnston proved that one person can make a difference. Do you think you can make a difference in our world? Yes, you can! The difference you make in our world doesn�’t need to be a grand and spectacular event. Little acts of kindness you do each day help make our world a better place. Imagine what our world would be like if everyone did one act of kindness every day! By spreading the story of Velma Johnston and doing acts of kindness toward others, you can make a difference in our world. When you do an act of kindness to someone, tell that person Velma�’s story and give them a wild horse card. (Use cards provided below.) The card is not for them to keep, but to be used as a reminder for that person to do an act of kindness for someone else; then pass the card along. Like wild horses, our acts of kindness can run wild and free!

Nevada and Its Neighbors

Label Nevada�’s Neighboring States

California Oregon Idaho Utah Arizona Refer to the map on page Z of S is Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

Draw a star on the map to show the location of Nevada�’s capital, Carson City. Place an X on the location of Las Vegas. Now put a dot on the location of the city where you live or would like to visit.

Clay Fossil Prints

Search for an Ichthyosaur fossil on page I and visit the Beatty Mudmound on page M of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

Clay Fossil Prints Materials Fern leaves Shells Modeling clay

Fossils are the hardened remains or traces of plants or animals

that have turned into stone over millions of years.

Directions

1. Begin with a small ball of clay about the size of a baseball. Divide the clay into two equal portions.

2. Press the clay into flat circular shapes.

3. Place the fern leaves and shells on one of the flat pieces.

4. Place the second flat piece of clay over the first half.

5. Press the pieces together, molding the clay over the leaves and shells.

6. Allow the clay to dry, and then carefully separate the two pieces of clay.

7. Remove the leaves and shells. Observe the leaf and shell prints.

Nevada�’s Precious Gemstone Looking for a black fire opal? The Virgin Valley in northern Nevada is the only place in North America where the black fire opal is found in any significant quantity. You can also find this precious gemstone on page O of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet.

Art Activity

Materials White cardstock paper Paint brush Red and black crayons Penny Black tempera paint Dish soap

Directions

1. Color the entire piece of the white paper with a red and black crayon. Cover the majority of the area in red. Press hard to leave a dark, thick layer of crayon.

2. Add a drop of dish soap to the black tempera paint. This will help the paint stick

to the colored paper. 3. Paint a layer of black paint over the colored paper and allow the paint to dry. 4. Using a penny, scratch a black fire opal design on the surface of the paper.

Removing sections of the black paint will reveal the red and black colors. Suggestion Scratch Nevada�’s motto, All for Our Country, at the bottom of your paper!

Nevada�’s Famous and Important People

Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet to learn about some of Nevada�’s famous and important people. Match the name with the description.

Kit Carson Known for her degikup baskets John Fremont Played a key role in the passing of the Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burro Act Dr. Charles Camp Famous scout Carson River�—Carson City Dat-So-La-Lee Explorer�—Drew the first map of Nevada with Kit Carson Velma Johnston Discovered the fossilized remains of the ichthyosaurs Philipp Deidesheimer Peacemaker�—Chief of the Paiutes Eva Adams Invented square set timbering for safer mining Chief Winnemucca Daughter of Chief Winnemucca Worked to improve the living conditions of her tribe Sarah Winnemucca Director of the United States Mint in 1961

Hit a Jackpot of Facts On page Q

of S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet

On top of the following quarter outline, write two facts you found interesting after reading page Q.

Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet and the following clues to discover interesting places in Nevada. 1. I am in a town in the northern part of Nevada, also called �“Miner Country.�” The town is

named after the word people shouted when they discovered gold or silver. Where am I? ________________________________________________________________________

2. I am at a lake created by the Hoover Dam. It is the largest man-made lake in the country.

Where am I? _____________________________________________________________ 3. I am in the city that means �“the meadows�” in Spanish. I am waving to Vegas Vic. Where

am I? ___________________________________________________________________ 4. I am fishing at the only lake in the world that is home to the cui-ui fish. Where am I?

________________________________________________________________________ 5. I am at the ending spot of the largest river in Nevada. The lost Bidwell-Bartleson wagon

train followed this river. Where am I? ________________________________________________________________________

6. I am searching for fossils at an amazing 270-foot-thick and 1,000-foot-long mound of pale gray

limestone. Where am I? ________________________________________________________________________

7. I am at the capital of Nevada. Where am I?

________________________________________________________________________ 8. I am in a town that doesn�’t have a stoplight and is one square mile in size. Samuel

Clemens spent several years here. Where am I? ________________________________________________________________________

Bonus question: What was Samuel Clemens�’ pen name?

_________________________________________________________________________

Read S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet and play a game of search and find. Have a partner choose a word from the list below. Search for the picture in the book. After you find the picture, say eureka and read aloud the passage of that page to your partner. It�’s now your turn to choose a word and have your partner search and find. Word List Baby Desert bighorn sheep Cat Mountain bluebird Degikup baskets Lab notes Coonskin cap Sunrise above a snowcapped mountain peak Hoover Dam Black opal Ichthyosaur National park brochures White pelicans Quarters Native American princess Wild horses Sagebrush Bristlecone pine Mining cave Neon cowboy Bald eagle Mackay mansion Fossils

NEVADA CROSSWORD Across 1. A giant, neon cowboy in downtown Las Vegas 2. A giant, neon cowgirl in downtown Las Vegas 3. Nevada�’s state bird 4. Nickname that describes Nevada�’s admittance to the Union 5. The 36th state, admitted in 1864 6. Another nickname for Nevada, based on its mining, the ___________ state Down 1. Nevada�’s capital 2. Eureka! In the 1800s miners found silver and ________ 3. Spanish for �“the meadows�”-exciting city in Nevada 1 1 2 2

3 3 4 5 6

Nevada Word Search BATTLE BORN CARSON CITY DESERT TORTOISE GOLD HOOVER DAM LAS VEGAS MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD NEVADA PINON SAGEBRUSH SILVER VIRGINIA CITY

M O B A T D E T B S A G P I N M O U N G O L H O V D S A G M O V S C A G D V O P D E S E R T T O R T O I S E M E E L H M N P I R A T S I L G V R B A S T B H O O C C S A L V I A N I V Y M R D A O P I L A S L E I D L C S T C O C E M O U N T A I N B L U E B I R D U A S N V C B N R L G O D E S C L T O N R E E E D A H O O G R V L A S V E G A S L V R E T R P S A N V I S L E D E S A A S D S T O R I A T N P A V R E N M G V A A C R M C A N I E I G O A V E M E E G M S I V L C G H V N P C C P V E B U E O N B C A R S O N C I T Y D I M R L J A R E D I O H O O A N M C H S N U B D N G T V H V I L A G O L D O B R S D I B T S E A N D R E W N I H O A S H O T A N E A C D V N H O B V M V T R I M B A T V A G D A S I C A R L E N E V L

Answer Key Nevada�’s Amazing Animal-Desert Big Horn Sheep Female bighorn sheep are called ewes. Male bighorn sheep are called rams. Young bighorn sheep are called ewes. Desert bighorn sheep live in dry mountain ranges. Desert country is a harsh environment. Bighorn sheep hooves are good for mountain climbing. You can tell the age of bighorns by counting the rings on its horn. A full curl horn takes at least seven years to grow. Both male and female bighorns have horns. A bighorn�’s tail is very short. The eyesight of bighorns allows them to see a mile away. A male desert bighorn can weigh as much as 175 pounds. Nevada�’s State Flag How many states entered the Union during the Civil War? One, Nevada 1. Incorrect word �– black Correct word �– blue 2. Incorrect word �– gold Correct word �– silver 3. Incorrect word �– snowstorm Correct word �– snowclad 4. Incorrect word �– sunflowers Correct word �– sagebrush 5. Incorrect word �– diamond Correct word �– star 6. Incorrect word �– Revolutionary Correct word - Civil 7. Incorrect word �– Strong Correct word �– Born The Great Seal of the State of Nevada Image What does it represent? 36 stars on the inner ring Nevada was the 36th state admitted to the Union. Silver miner Nevada�’s silver mining Train Transportation Telegraph poles Communication Sheaf of wheat Agriculture Sunrise over snowcapped peaks Nevada�’s natural beauty H is for Hoover Dam and Hard Hats What do hard hats have to do with the Hoover Dam? Hard hats were invented to protect the workers who built the Hoover Dam. Job Wage per day Wage per week Brakeman $4.00 $20.00 Electrician $6.00 $30.00 Miner $5.60 $28.00 Muck Mach. Operator $8.00 $40.00 Shovel Operator $10.00 $50.00 Mountain Bluebird Ants, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, wasps Unscramble Nevada 1. Carson City 2. Snowclad 3. Hoover Dam 4. Ichthyosaur 5. Las Vegas 6. Lehman Caves 7. Pyramid Lake 8. Mark Twain 9. Desert Tortoise 10. Sagebrush 11. Virginia City

Nevada�’s Famous and Important People Kit Carson �– Famous scout, Carson River, Carson City John Fremont �– Explorer, Drew the first map of Nevada with Kit Carson Dr. Charles Camp �– Discovered the fossilized remains of the ichthyosaurs Dat-So-La-Lee - Known for her degikup baskets Velma Johnston �– Played a key role in the passing of the Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burro Act Philipp Deidesheimer �– Invented square set timbering for safer mining Eva Adams �– Director of the United States Mint in 1961 Chief Winnemucca �– Peacemaker, Chief of the Paiutes Sarah Winnemucca �– Daughter of Chief Winnemucca, worked to improve the living conditions of her tribe Where Am I? 1. Eureka 2. Lake Mead 3. Las Vegas 4. Pyramid Lake 5. Humbolt Sink, the end of the Humbolt River 6. Beatty Mudmound 7. Carson City 8. Yerington Bonus Question: Mark Twain Nevada Crossword Across 1. Vegas Vic 2. Vegas Vicki 3. Mountain bluebird 4. Battle Born 5. Nevada 6. Silver Down 1. Carson City 2. Gold 3. Las Vegas Nevada Word Search B A D E S E R T T O R T O I S E T H L Y O E S T M O U N T A I N B L U E B I R D V O C L E R L A S V E G A S R N I E A D N R G A I E M G P B N C A R S O N C I T Y R E I N U V G O L D S A N H D A